Strict rules in place for the summer oyster season

The summer oyster harvesting season began Wednesday with some strict limits on harvesting in place again this year designed to rebuild oyster populations.

Temporary rules in effect this summer include the continued closure of the East Hole bar to commercial or recreational oyster harvesting.

Commercial oystermen are also limited to 4 bags of oysters a day as opposed to 20; recreational harvesters are limited to 5 gallons of oysters in the shell per vessel.

Commercial and Recreational oyster harvesting will not be allowed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from June 1st through July 16th.

After July 16^th Commercial and recreational harvesting will be allowed on Fridays but not on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission created the rules in conjunction with the local oyster industry to help rebuild the Apalachicola bay Oyster population which has been severely depleted by low water flows from the Apalachicola River along with other factors.

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